Moving to Basel

Basel is the heart of the pharmaceutical and life sciences industry in Switzerland. Novartis, Roche and countless biotech companies have their headquarters or research centers there. The city is also distinguished by an exceptional cultural scene: the Art Basel fair, the Beyeler Foundation and more than 40 museums make it the cultural capital of Switzerland.

Its position at the Franco-German-Swiss tripoint offers a unique advantage: you can live in Switzerland, France (Saint-Louis, Mulhouse) or Germany (Lörrach, Weil am Rhein) and work in Basel. Our team helps you evaluate the different options.

Basel, capitale des sciences de la vie et de l'art

Basel, with its 180,000 inhabitants and a trinational conurbation of 830,000 people, is the world center of the pharmaceutical industry. Giants Novartis and Roche have their headquarters there, and the life sciences sector directly employs more than 35,000 people in the region. Syngenta, Lonza and hundreds of biotech companies complete this unique ecosystem.

The city is also the cultural capital of Switzerland: with more than 40 museums (including the Fondation Beyeler, the Kunstmuseum and the Musée Tinguely), Art Basel — the most important contemporary art fair in the world — and contemporary architecture by Herzog & de Meuron, Renzo Piano and Zaha Hadid, Basel offers an exceptional cultural density.

Its position at the Franco-German-Swiss tripoint makes it a truly European city where three cultures meet on a daily basis. The Rhine crosses the city and structures urban life with its ferry crossings (Fähre) and summer swimming.

Basel neighborhoods and cross-border options

The Basel rental market is tight but less extreme than in Zurich or Geneva. The vacancy rate is around 1.2% and rents are 20 to 30% lower than Zurich.

Cost of living in Basel

Basel offers a good balance between high salaries (pharma sector) and moderate cost of living compared to Zurich and Geneva. The median salary in the canton of Basel-Stadt is around CHF 7,400 gross per month.

Transport in the Basel region

The BVB (Basler Verkehrs-Betriebe) network is excellent with 12 tram lines and numerous bus lines. The tram is the preferred means of transport for the people of Basel. The network is trinational, with tram and bus lines crossing the border to France and Germany.

EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg (BSL/MLH) is located 20 minutes from the city center. It is a unique trinational airport, serving all three countries. EasyJet has an important base there. The TGV connects Basel to Paris in 3 hours 05 minutes via the Basel SNCF station.

Cycling is very popular in Basel, which is one of the most cycle-friendly cities in Switzerland. The flat terrain and well-developed cycle paths make daily travel easier.

Art of living and integration in Basel

Basel has a strong cultural identity, marked by Carnival (Fasnacht), three days of festivities which are the largest cultural event in Switzerland. The people of Basel are proud of their city and their traditions, while being open to the international world thanks to the massive presence of the pharmaceutical industry.

Swimming in the Rhine is a summer ritual: thousands of Basel residents let themselves be carried by the current in a waterproof bag (Wickelfisch). The “Buvettes” along the river and the Christmas markets enliven the city all year round.

For expatriate families, the International School Basel (ISB) offers a recognized IB program. The Basel public school system is of quality, with teaching in German. The city is compact and very safe, with a rich network of associations to facilitate integration.